KEITH SKENE
Keith Skene took part in the science and art panel and presented a talk entitled: A stitch in time means no more patched jeans: optimality in a posthuman world. He began by citing Karl Popper who says that if perception is wholly dependent on context, then stripping away context is a strategy of doubtful value. In Skene’s work the temporal and spatial contexts are key elements to understanding how the Earth functions. Patterns of organization occur in identical formats at each level of organization in the biosphere. Constraints and opportunities shape these organizational structures. Form and function are inextricably linked throughout these levels, and form is the basis of function, from enzymes to cities. Skene also explored D’arcy Thompson’s law of transformation and noted that life generally works at a sub-optimal level. Examples include errors in DNA correction during replication, wherein a perfect correction system would preclude any mutations, thus preventing evolution. Also, the fig wasp doesn’t work efficiently in parasitizing fig eggs, and thus allows the mutualistic relationship to work.

In the discussion of the posthuman condition, Skene also referred to Richard Dawkins who has said that biological evolution in human beings has ceased. With the impact of silicon chip driven processes replacing human function at many levels of social function, and thus the perfecting of previously sub-optimal activity, what will be the implications in the posthuman world? He concluded that exploring these issues in art-science collaborations has the potential to generate new insights into important aspects of the future world.

 

Growing up in Northern Ireland in 1970s, Keith Skene has been equally influenced by his mother, a semi-professional artist, and his father, a mechanic, in terms of his interest in science and arts. He finally opted for a Science degree after working as an outdoor pursuits instructor, and traveling worldwide. Keith has been a lecturer in Biology at the University of Dundee for the last 7 years. His research and traveling have led him to engage in recognizing patterns of organization at different levels of life, from DNA, through communities to Gaia, the planetary super-organism. Within these levels of organization, the sub-optimal outcomes play a key role. Finally, the spatial and temporal constraints and patterns, that have shaped the evolution of our planet and ourselves, forms a key part of his interests. Given his background he was delighted to accept an open invitation to work with Gina Czarnecki on two projects, Silvers Alter (showing as part of the Designer Bodies exhibition) and Infection.

"I feel strongly that art-science interactions can produce innovative, important and significant advances in both fields", says Keith Skene.

 

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